Zach Millwood, Reedmaker and Teacher

I’m Zach Millwood. My passions in life revolve around music — performing, teaching, and making professional-level oboe and bassoon reeds. Though my early roots were in model cars, computers, and shop tools, I gradually began staying up until 3:00am making lots of reeds. Luckily, I ran into some of the world’s best teachers along the way.

Education

After earning my ‘cum laude’ degree in music performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music on a full-tuition scholarship, I subsequently relocated to Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas. There I immediately began full-time private instruction of the bassoon, oboe, and flute, teaching 40+ students weekly, and produced excellent reeds. In short order, my students began placing in top chairs at Region and Area contests, have earned college scholarships, and have even attended the Booker T. Washington School for the Visual and Performing Arts. Typical students place well in competition ensembles, we have a blast in lessons, and they quickly outpace their peers.

Performing/teaching

I now live in Knoxville, Tennessee, performing bassoon and oboe professionally with various ensembles.I am the principal bassoonist with the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra and I also play with the Soiree Winds woodwind quintet. In addition, I sub with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, and the Symphony of the Mountains (Kingsport, TN). Furthermore, I can be seen on any of my other instruments around the southeast with ensembles large and small. I’m an Irish music fan, and I’m often playing sessions on pennywhistle and bodhran (Irish drum – super cool). Currently, I teach locally in the Knoxville, Tennessee area. For more information, visit the Lessons page or the Contact link in the menu above to inquire.